Join the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in Dubuque

The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, invites the Dubuque community to the 2023 Dubuque Area Heart Walk on Saturday, May 6 at the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Steve Pulaski of Townsquare Media will be co-emceeing the event alongside Ron Steele of KWWL-TV. The event is sure to draw in a great deal of individuals looking to walk to raise both funds and awareness for heart disease and other heart-related risks.

The American Heart Association’s premier event to boost physical and mental health, the Heart Walk allows supporters to celebrate heart and stroke survivors, raise lifesaving funds and encourage physical activity. This year’s theme is “I Walk to Save Lives.”

Glenn Hasken, chief operating officer of Molo Companies, returns as chairperson for the event after leading a record-breaking fundraising campaign in 2022. The cause is personal for Hasken, who lost both of his parents to heart disease:

Heart disease and stroke impact people in very personal, life-changing ways. The Heart Walk encourages participants to express, share and be inspired by the reasons why they walk while supporting an organization that leads the way in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

Congenital heart defect survivor Cam Ludovissy of Dubuque serves as this year’s survivor ambassador. Cam was diagnosed with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return of the Coronary Sinus (TAPVR) and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). This 4-year-old loves the color green, dinosaurs – especially the t-rex – riding his bike, swimming and taking care of his animals:

Our family is forever grateful for the care and research that has been done on CHDs. Without today’s medical advances, Cam wouldn’t be the spunky, fun-loving child he is today.

To register, visit the Dubuque Heart Walk's official website. From there, participants can stay up to date by downloading the Heart Walk mobile app and encourage friends and family to join in via e-mail or on social media.

The funds raised from the Dubuque Area Heart Walk go towards research, advocacy, CPR training and to promote better health in support of the Association’s 2024 Health Equity Impact Goal, reducing barriers to health care access and quality. During the past 5 years, the American Heart Association has funded more than $12.9 million dollars on new research studies in the state of Iowa, including 63 studies at the University of Iowa.

The Dubuque Area Heart Walk is the signature event of the American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge program which is designed to help companies positively impact employee overall health and wellbeing. The program is anchored in a series of customizable workplace events that inspires employees to be more engaged, reconnect with colleagues and get in their physical activity.

The Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will be closed to vehicular traffic, but medical on-call parking passes are available. Off-street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood and shuttle service will be provided by Trolleys Of Dubuque.  Pets are not allowed at the venue. For questions or additional information, contact Cathy Brandt at cathy.brandt@heart.org or 815-541-1945.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City is the signature sponsor of the Dubuque Area Heart Walk. Other key sponsors include, Molo Companies, MercyOne and Theisen’s Home, Farm & Auto.